Hawaii (HI) • Hawaiian Electric (HECO, MECO, HELCO — Oahu, Maui, Big Island)Model: Avoided Cost

Hawaiian Electric (HECO) Smart DER Tariff & BYOD Battery Bonus Guide

With Hawaii’s electric rates averaging 42¢–54¢/kWh and daytime grids saturated with solar, virtually 99% of new HECO installations pair solar with 14kWh–30kWh of LFP storage under the Smart DER tariff and BYOD battery cash bonus.

Peak Import Rate

$0.44 – $0.56 / kWh (Evening Peak 5 PM – 9 PM)

Midday Export Credit

$0.15 – $0.19 / kWh (Daytime Export) or Non-Export Self-Supply

Peak Export / VPP Bonus

$0.30 – $0.42 / kWh Evening Peak Export + Up to $4,250 BYOD Upfront Bonus

Min Monthly Bill

$25.00 Minimum Monthly Residential Bill

1. 24-Hour Import Cost vs. Export Credit Visualizer

Schedule: HECO Smart Renewable Energy (Smart DER) + Bring Your Own Device (BYOD)

Compare what Hawaiian Electric (HECO, MECO, HELCO — Oahu, Maui, Big Island) charges you to import 1 kWh vs. what they pay you when you export 1 kWh during each time window—and how your battery inverter should be programmed:

9:00 AM – 5:00 PM (Daytime Solar Abundance)

Import: 21¢/kWhExport: 16.5¢/kWh

Grid Buy:

Grid Sell:

Inverter Dispatch Rule: Charge 14.3–28.6 kWh LFP battery to 100% SoC; run daytime mini-splits & water heater directly off solar

5:00 PM – 9:00 PM (HECO Evening Peak Dispatch)

Import: 52¢/kWhExport: 34¢/kWh

Grid Buy:

Grid Sell:

Inverter Dispatch Rule: Power 100% of home loads from battery + export scheduled kW to HECO during 5 PM–9 PM BYOD window

9:00 PM – 9:00 AM (Overnight)

Import: 41¢/kWhExport: 18¢/kWh

Grid Buy:

Grid Sell:

Inverter Dispatch Rule: Run whole house on remaining stored battery power to avoid 41¢/kWh overnight diesel generation rate

2. Forensic Tariff & Battery Arbitrage Math

Battery Pairing Necessity Score: 99% Mandatory (Grid-export without battery is effectively unviable in Hawaii)

13.1-Year Payback in Hawaii: Because HECO electricity costs 42¢–54¢/kWh and Hawaii offers a massive 35% Hawaii State Solar & Battery Tax Credit (up to $5,000 per 5kW system—and multiple 5kW systems can qualify!), solar + LFP battery systems in Hawaii pay for themselves in just 3.0 to 3.8 years.
2HECO Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) Upfront Cash Bonus: Committing 5 kW of battery export capacity between 5 PM and 9 PM earns an upfront cash rebate of up to $850 per kW ($4,250 for 5 kW) plus ongoing monthly bill credits.

Optimal Hardware Architecture for Hawaiian Electric (HECO, MECO, HELCO — Oahu, Maui, Big Island)

EG4 18kPV + 2x 14.3kWh PowerPro All-Weather LFP (Salt-Air Protected)

Estimated Payback under HECO Smart Renewable Energy (Smart DER) + Bring Your Own Device (BYOD): 3.0 – 3.8 Years (With 35% Hawaii State Tax Credit + BYOD)

View Direct Wholesale Pricing →

Hawaiian Electric (HECO, MECO, HELCO — Oahu, Maui, Big Island) Solar Tariff FAQ

How does the 35% Hawaii State Renewable Energy Technologies Income Tax Credit (RETITC) work for larger systems?

Hawaii allows a 35% state tax credit capped at $5,000 per "solar energy system" of at least 5 kW. Under Hawaii Department of Taxation rules, a 10 kW or 15 kW array wired as two or three functionally independent 5 kW subsystems can claim multiple $5,000 credits ($10,000–$15,000 total state credit)!

Can I install a Non-Export solar + battery system on Oahu or Maui for fast-track approval?

Yes, non-export / self-supply configurations that prevent power from backfeeding past the HECO meter receive streamlined interconnection approval.

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